This extraordinary laptop model can run for up to 2 years without requiring charging

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An electronics enthusiast has crafted a 'laptop-like device' with a battery life lasting up to 2 years. Dubbed as 'PotatoP', it combines low-energy components, a 12,000mAh battery, and a small solar panel.

John Doe

March 13, 2023

Could this be the quirkiest laptop model you've ever seen? (Image: Andreas Eriksen)

An electronics enthusiast has crafted a 'laptop-like device' with a battery life lasting up to 2 years. Dubbed as 'PotatoP', it combines low-energy components, a 12,000mAh battery, and a small solar panel.

Andreas Eriksen is the mastermind behind the unique PotatoP laptop model. He aims to develop this laptop project to offer unlimited battery life with a larger screen.

With the solar energy panel, users may not need to plug in this device (Image: Andreas Eriksen)

Inspiration for PotatoP stemmed from Eriksen's frustration with his current laptop always running out of battery. For his 'small programming projects' on the laptop, powerful hardware is unnecessary. PotatoP will suit users inclined towards very low energy consumption, as long as the screen is sharp, easy to read, and the keyboard works well.

To fulfill the aforementioned vision, PotatoP's design relies on the SparkFun RedBoard Artemis ATP development board as its 'motherboard'. This motherboard features the Ambiq Apollo3 processor, proclaimed to 'set a new standard for energy efficiency in battery-powered devices'.

The device is equipped with the SparkFun RedBoard Artemis ATP motherboard (Image: Andreas Eriksen)

Additionally, the ARM Cortex-M4F of the processor runs at speeds up to 96 MHz while consuming less than six micro-Amps per MHz. The SBC also boasts 384 KB of RAM and 1 MB of flash memory, as well as various interface/connectivity options relative to the device's size.

Another key component of PotatoP is the Sharp in Pixel LS044Q7DH01 display. This is a monochrome 320 x 240 pixel screen measuring 4.4 inches. Eriksen wishes Sharp would create a larger version of this screen and could present a replacement solution as long as it can save power consumption.

The device utilizes Sharp's monochrome display (Image: Andreas Eriksen)

The unique feature of this display is its lack of backlighting, which will help conserve energy. However, this 4.4-inch screen is said to be 'surprisingly readable' in good lighting conditions. The small screen also lends PotatoP a distinctive design.

Additionally, Eriksen has repurposed a used Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2 to integrate into PotatoP, enhancing the typing experience.

In terms of software, PotatoP is running on the Lisp environment (uLisp). Eriksen states that using the Lisp language to develop necessary application software is another interesting aspect of utilizing this homemade computer.

Experimenting with program execution on the PotatoP laptop prototype (Source: Andreas Eriksen)

Ultimately, PotatoP boasts an impressive battery life measured in years, being adjusted to potentially 'never' need charging. Eriksen is also striving to optimize the system to reduce power consumption. If software tweaks alone can't extend the battery life indefinitely (with the assistance of solar energy), Eriksen is considering adding additional solar panels to achieve this goal.

Are you impressed by this unique PotatoP laptop model?

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Source: Tom's Hardware